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Fire chief deal rejected

The move came as a surprise to Bleskacheck and her lawyer, who thought the terms for her exit from the chief position would be acceptable to city officials.

Mayor R.T. Rybak says the city will continue to pursue her removal as chief. Neither Mayor Rybak nor members of the committee would say why the offer was rejected. The executive committee has scheduled another meeting on the matter for December.

Bleskachek, the nation's first openly
lesbian big-city fire chief, was the subject of several firefighter lawsuits accusing her of harassment and discrimination.

Rybak had announced the agreement in a letter to the
city's executive council in which he wrote that he no longer had
confidence in Bleskachek as chief.

Blesachek's attorney, Jerry Burg, said the chief's employment agreement
calls for her to be reassigned as battalion chief. She would then
request a demotion to captain, he said.

Bleskachek, 43, was hailed as a trailblazer when she was
promoted to the top job two years ago, but her tenure has been
troubled.

Three female firefighters have sued, alleging various acts of
discrimination and sexual harassment. Two of the lawsuits were
settled, but earlier this month, a male firefighter brought another
lawsuit alleging he was denied advancement because he is male and
not gay.

A city investigation is still under way. This summer, a separate
investigation by the city's Department of Civil Rights into a 2003
complaint by a male firefighter - brought when Bleskachek was a
battalion chief - found it "likely" that the department gave
preferential treatment to lesbians or those who socialized with
them.

The city has spent more than $410,000 on the investigation,
legal settlements and compensation of Bleskachek during her paid
leave, which began March 22.